DNA Fingerprinting may be familiar to many students as reference to the procedure is now made in many television shows, movies and books. The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the process of DNA Fingerprinting. It is not intended to be an exhaustive study of DNA analysis, but rather an activity that models the process and provides students with a greater appreciation for the process. It is recommended that teachers use their discretion in terms of the level of detail you may wish to describe DNA. This activity assumes that students realize DNA is genetic material that is responsible for the uniqueness of each person.
The DNA fingerprinting lab uses barcodes as a model for the electrophoresis gel used in scientific laboratories to do DNA analysis. For students, it is important to realize that each person has an unique bar code or DNA profile. Their task in this activity is to match a specific DNA profile to a list of collected DNA profiles. This activity is a good opportunity to focus on specific data collecting skills you want the students to develop. For example, if they are to develop appropriate lab notes for use in their assessment tasks, this is a good lab to focus on having students collecting and presenting their results.
While this activity is not complicated it will require you to make a page of barcodes. Two columns of 15 barcodes each should provide enough samples for a class. The barcodes can be taken from any consumer goods. Each barcode should be numbered so that a match can be made. Each student will be given a barcode or DNA sample with a name of a suspect on the sample. If the student DNA sample has been made on clear acetate, it is easier to compare the sample to the key of 30 samples. You may find that for the first two activities you have half the class doing fingerprinting and the other half DNA fingerprinting and then they switch activities.
For students who finish early, you may wish to have them research different types of fingerprinting.
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